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Scholarships

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Qualifications

Overview

Latin is one of the oldest languages in the western world, and many modern European languages such as Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, French, and English share their origins with this ancient language. An understanding of Latin thus greatly improves one’s command of spelling and grammar of English, as well as of these other European languages.

Studying Latin investigates social and political concepts, as well as the society and culture of Ancient Rome, whose political and legal institutions have profoundly influenced the modern world today.

With Latin still widely used in modern terminology, students intending on medicine, linguistics, science, or law careers will benefit from knowledge of the Latin language.

Students will also find studying this subject especially useful for postgraduate studies in Classics.

Internationally regarded Classics staff include recipients of prestigious visiting fellowships to Oxford and Cambridge Universities, UC Teaching Awards, and internal and external research awards such as a major Marsden grant for the ground-breaking study of ancient drama. Classics staff and students regularly present at conferences all over the world.

The Classical Association of Christchurch, which is run by the UC Classics Department, hosts guest speakers from all over the world at public lectures and events.

The active study club Classoc offers peer language support for beginners and a variety of social and academic events.

100-level courses

200-level and beyond

Advanced Latin courses gives students the ability to examine literary works and original documents from Ancient Rome in their original language, such as Roman satire, poetry, and drama, from writers such as Cicero, Pliny the Younger, Vergil, Horace, and Petronius.

Students can develop their own particular interests based on these and other authors and can embark on research projects under the guidance of UC staff.

Graduates will have advanced knowledge of language origins and use in industries such government, policies, law, medicine, and a variety of science fields. Occupations concerned with the study of the Ancient Mediterranean, such as academia and school teaching, publishing, museums, and archaeology will also benefit from graduates of Latin.

UC graduates will also find their studies in Latin a good background for further studies in European languages.